The Case of Alan Turing
The Extraordinary and Tragic Story of the Legendary Codebreaker
Description
Lambda Literary Award finalist
Alan Turing, subject of the Oscar-winning 2014 film The Imitation Game, was the brilliant mathematician solicited by the British government to help decipher messages sent by Germany's Enigma machines during World War II. The work of Turing and his colleagues at Hut 8 saved countless lives and
millions' worth of British goods and merchandise.
At the same time, as a homosexual he was forced to lead a tortured, secret life. After a young man stole money from him, he went to the police, where he confessed his homosexuality; he was charged with gross indecency and only avoided prison after agreeing to undergo chemical castration. Tragically, he committed suicide two years later.
The particulars of Turing's achievements were only made known in 2012, following the release of once-classified papers. Authors Liberge and Delalande used this information to create a graphic
biography that is scientifically rigorous yet understandable for the lay reader.
Delving deeper into Turing's life than The Imitation Game, this graphic work is an intimate portrayal of a brilliant gay man living in an intolerant world.
Awards
- Short-listed, Lambda Literary Award 2017
Reviews
Arnaud Delalande succeeded in making me care for Turing beyond his well known accomplishments. And Eric Liberge's art throughout is an absolute marvel for the eyes. -Gay League
An eminently readable book that's pleasantly informative, even philosophically edifying. -subTerrain
The presentation of Turing as towering intellect harrowed by guilt and despair gestures toward some of the best examples of the American comic book, particularly the self doubting, dark super heroes of the Marvel comics. Think of this character, and this book, as an implausible but nonetheless successful blend of Batman and Crime and Crime and Punishment's Raskolnikov. -Vancouver Sun
As so often happens when a historical figure becomes a pop icon, something gets left out in the process, and forcing Turing's life into the familiar mold of the tortured genius is reductive and misleading. This new graphic novel offers a fuller portrait of Turing as a human being while also honoring his many intellectual accomplishments.
-Popmatters. com